Golden Eagles defeat Eastern Illinois in four sets

Oct 09, 2009

CHARLESTON, Ill. - After beginning their OVC schedule with three
consecutive losses, the Golden Eagles have rebounded to win four of
their last five matches, including Friday evening's match against
the Eastern Illinois Panthers. The Tennessee Tech volleyball team
avenged a three-set loss earlier this season to the Panthers with a
four-set victory (19-25, 25-21, 25-19, 26-24) as the Golden Eagles
move to 5-12 overall and even their OVC record at 4-4.

After losing the first set, Tech came back to take the next
three sets and send the Panthers (7-14, 1-8 OVC) to their seventh
consecutive loss.

TTU led EIU in kills (51-47), assists (47-45), aces (6-5) and
digs (77-71), while EIU had the upper-hand in hitting percentage
(.112-.102) and blocks (14-11). In addition to having one more ace
than the Panthers, the Golden Eagles also committed five less
services errors.

Four players finished with double-digit kills for Tech,
including freshman Kelsey Gray (11), junior Marie Peddicord (11),
senior Amanda Lindgren (10), and junior Leah Meffert (10). Senior
Teresa Craig finished with five kills, while freshman Katrina
Dvorken posted three kills on four attempts. Gray also led the team
with a .296 hitting percentage.

Junior setter Melanie Culp handed out 44 assists and narrowly
missed her sixth double-double of the season as she totaled nine
digs. Culp also led TTU with three service aces, while Craig,
Lindgren and Meffert each added one.

At the defensive side of the net, Gray finished with six blocks
to lead the team and Peddicord chipped in with four. Lindgren and
Meffert each tallied a pair of stuffs, while Culp and Craig added
one apiece.

The Golden Eagles will look to move to above .500 in the
conference for the first time this season on Saturday evening when
they take on Southeast Missouri. Game time is set for 6 p.m.